Urbanisation changes the structure of natural habitats and alters trophic interactions, pressuring urban species to adjust and adapt. Unlike behavioural shifts that tend to be more flexible, morphological characteristics in vertebrates are less plastic and changes may come at a greater cost. We explored the hypothesis that morphological characteristics in a tropical agamid lizard Psammophilus dorsalis

Traditional pastoralism based on free-ranging goats is indispensable for the rural economy of millions of people in the Brazilian Caatinga drylands. The use of landscape as rangelands for domestic herbivores benefits humans, but understanding its impacts on vegetation is crucial to sustainable strategies. Here we assessed how free-ranging domestic goats use mixed working landscapes in the largest dry

The goal of the present study was to determine whether grafting of watermelon on gourd rootstocks could improve alkalinity tolerance and to investigate the physiological and morphological response mechanisms of the grafted plants under different pH levels. The experiment was carried out in a climate chamber to investigate growth, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD), leaf area, stem length, shoot and root

Throughout Asian countries including India, water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) plays a crucial role in socio-economic status of the farmers by providing nutritional security. The concept of genomic selection through genetic markers has been widely used in various livestock species and this is extended to buffalo species as well. Molecular markers have been extensively used in animal breeding for improvements

Seasonally dry tropical forests are among the most vulnerable ecosystems to the effects of anthropogenic disturbances, and yet their biodiversity is still poorly known. In this study we investigated the composition, activity, structure, and effect of seasonality in mosquitoes’ assemblages of a conservation Caatinga domain unit. The collections consisted of the monthly installation of two Shannon traps

Overgrazing by introduced herbivores is widely recognized as a threatening process in Australia's semi-arid rangelands. Comparatively, grazing by native herbivores is generally considered to have benign effects. Populations of introduced herbivores are controlled in conservation reserves, but populations of native kangaroos and wallabies are seldom subject to control. We investigated the impacts of

To assess whether grafting could improve the nitrogen (N) efficiency of potato cultivars and to determine which physiological and morphological characteristics are predominantly contributing to N efficiency, a hydroponic experiment was conducted. Two contrasting potato cultivars (Agria: N‑efficient and Van Gogh: N‑inefficient) were grafted reciprocally onto each other. Grafted and non-grafted control

Vegetables in the tropics are grown continuously throughout the year due to the favorable climate. Unfortunately, leafy vegetables are often damaged because of slugs and snails. These mollusks and other herbivores cause different levels of defoliation to plants which can significantly impact their growth, production, and quality of the harvested product. A study was carried out in order to artificially

The recent study of botanical macro-remains from the Late Sasanian and Early Islamic (5th to 8th century) fort of Fulayj (Batinah, Sultanate of Oman) provides a unique opportunity to discuss food and fuel acquisition strategies in an arid environment and to document periods that are little known from an archaeobotanical perspective in Eastern Arabia. Seed assemblages include the first well-identified

Globally, rationalizing and converting each drop of irrigation water into food is a crucial act in agricultural production, particularly with climatic change concerns. Thus, the current study seeks to find an integral practice between irrigation pattern and weed control for saving the irrigation water in peanut fields with improving the nutritional value of the seeds. In sandy loam soil, under two

A factorial split-plot experiment (2015–17) was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Karaj, Iran, to investigate the quantitative and qualitative responses of rapeseed genotypes to the exogenous application of salicylic acid at various plant densities. Three plant densities (40, 50, and 60 plants m−2) and two levels of application of salicylic acid (non-application

Pathogens and chemical contaminants in stormwater are major environmental and public health concerns. Characterizing the variability in composition and bioremediation functions of the microbial community from different sources of stormwater will help with efforts to properly manage water after it rains. To improve understanding of the variability and composition of the microbial community in run-off

The two-location field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Thiobacillus and different levels of sulfur fertilizer on growth and physiological indices in the replacement intercropping of sesame and mung bean. A factorial experiment was performed based on a randomized complete block design in 3 replications in 2018. The experimental factors consisted of cropping ratio at five levels:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different controlled water regimes on the morphophysiological indicators, phenophases, and ideal cutting time of forage cacti clones grown in a semiarid environment. From 2016 to 2018, in the semi-arid region of Brazil, the Miúda (MIU), Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM) and IPA Sertânia (IPA) clones were submitted to three regimes (40%, 80% and 120%

An eDNA assay for the detection of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) in water samples was developed using quantitative PCR (qPCR) technology. Species-specific primers and a minor groove binding (MGB) probe were designed based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence. Upon conducting a cross-species test, the target species DNA was not only detected at low concentrations but also with high specificity

The original PumaPlex is a high-throughput assay developed to genotype 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pumas (Puma concolor). Here, we describe the development of PumaPlex100 – an expanded version of the original assay that now genotypes > 100 SNPs. We tested 142 candidate SNPs and developed a panel of 101 polymorphic loci, which are spread across four multiplexes and suitable for genotyping

Parrot egg seizure is frequent, and its impact on the population cannot be quantified due to difficulties in identifying the transportation of the eggs by traffickers. Morphological identification of species in eggs is difficult, especially when the embryos are not viable. In this context, DNA barcoding is an alternative for species identification. In May 2018, 31 eggs were seized at the Manaus/AM

Foliar application of micronutrients and plant growth regulators (PGRs) is one of the strategies of plant-feeding direct through leaves to allow rapid uptake irrespective of soil condition. This is the best way to enhance nutrient balance and its accumulation in the crops that, in turn, lead to improved crop yield and quality. This research studied the effect of boron (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm) and

For conservation genetic studies using non-invasively collected samples, genome-wide data may be hard to acquire. Until now, such studies have instead mostly relied on analyses of traditional genetic markers such as microsatellites (SSRs). Recently, high throughput genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has become available, expanding the use of genomic methods to include non-model species

We used Double Digest Restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) and Miseq to develop new geographically informative nuclear and plastid SNP and indel loci in Quercus robur and Q. petraea. Genotypes derived from sequence data of 95 individuals and two pools of 20 individuals each of Q. robur and Q. mongolica covering the distribution range of the species, were analysed to select geographically

Despite the essential role that vertebrate scavengers play in ecosystems, most studies have been conducted in Europe and North America, and there is a lack of information on vertebrate scavengers in vast regions of the world. Our aim was to describe the functioning and composition of the unknown vertebrate scavenger assemblage in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, and determine how carcass size and habitat

Information about the variation of biological attributes in species whose distribution covers more than one biome contributes to understanding phenotype variation in different environments. Herein, we evaluated how ecological aspects of the lizard Gonatodes humeralis vary between rainforest populations (Amazon domain) and a recently registered population in a coastal forest influenced by semiarid climate

While urbanisation remains a major threat to biodiversity, urban areas can sometimes play an important role in protecting threatened species, especially exploited taxa such as parrots. The Hispaniolan Parakeet Psittacara chloropterus has been extirpated across much of Hispaniola, including from most protected areas, yet Santo Domingo (capital city of the Dominican Republic) has recently been found

Crusts on soil surfaces are well recognized for wind erosion control in arid regions and mine tailings. In the last two decades, the use of microorganisms for crust formation on the soil surface has been developed. The topic here is to examine the durability of a biocrust created by Microcoleus vaginatus cyanobacterium and a biocemented sand crust induced by precipitation of calcium carbonate by Bacillus

Urban landscapes present substantial opportunities for biodiversity conservation with residential gardens offering some of the greatest potential conservation gains given that they represent a significant proportion of the total greenspace in urbanised landscapes. However, knowledge of wildlife ecology within gardens remains scarce, likely due to the difficulties associated with field ecologists accessing

Research to date on urban ecosystem services has mainly been conducted in large cities, particularly in China, the USA and some European countries. This study examined the provision of urban ecosystem services in a Swedish municipality context, based on interviews with municipal stakeholders in strategic management and planning from six municipalities and a review of existing publications readily available

Nomad, semi-nomad and transhumant used to be the most frequent mobility types of pastoral society. Nowadays, these categories become questionable in regard to the evolution of the pattern life of families in southern Morocco. How do we link past and present mobility? What have been the changes? In this article, we question the relevance of the aforementioned categories of mobility, as defined by the

Biotic modifiers are species that strongly alter environmental conditions, and that often shape local communities. When more than one biotic modifier co-occurs, the potential for interactive effects exists, where the effects of one species may negate or enhance the impacts of a second biotic modifier. Here we test for an interactive effect of aardvark (Orycteropus afer) burrows and tree presence on

Montane desert birds are particularly vulnerable to population declines driven by global climate change that is accelerated at higher elevations. Providing reliable and accurate information about their populations is essential for effective conservation management plans. However, few studies have compared the effectiveness of different survey methods for birds in high altitude arid environments, particularly

For a typical encroacher tree of the thornbush savanna, we studied the responses of water consumption to changes in soil water availability within 80 cm depth, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and global radiation. Therefore, we monitored the sap velocities of Senegalia mellifera trees over 2 years in a maximum of 20 stems (6–15 plant individuals) per measurement period on a site in central Namibia. For

Fertile islands play an important role in ecosystem structure and function. However, studies on the effects of fine roots of desert shrubson fertile islands in contrasting textured soils are scarce. We investigated soil water and nutrient contents, microbial biomass, fine root densities of Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A.Mey.), and their enrichment indices along a soil profile (100 cm deep and 200 cm wide)

Agricultural drought in a typical semiarid Mediterranean environment is investigated during the growing seasons of 1997 through 2020 using a combination of optical and thermal sensors onboard Landsat satellites. The combination of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index – Land Surface Temperature (NDVI- LST) space was able to distinguish between drought and non-drought years. A distinct trapezoidal

This essay approaches land degradation by targeting its ultimate thermodynamic causes, rather than its immediate environmental consequences. The objective is to make some propositions that could help understand the essence of the process, and contribute to a theoretical framework to be developed. These propositions are: 1. Human populations are an ecosystem component, not an external driver. 2. Coupled

Currently, the conservation of biodiversity is a pressing issue due to the extinction and endangerment of many species. There are multiple reasons for the extinction or endangerment of species including anthropogenic (poaching, hunting, and deforestation) and natural causes (forest fire, invasion of non-local species, climate change, and global warming). The somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is

Hydrogels are a promising management option to increase the efficiency of water use in agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions. However, abiotic factors may affect hydrogel efficacy. The effect of abiotic stress on the swelling and residual acrylamide in hydrogels was evaluated. The treatments were three hydrogels (A, B and C), four temperatures (20, 30, 40 and 65 °C) and two salinities (0.003 and

The Farasan Archipelago is an Important Plant Area near the Arabian Peninsula. The islands are small, low-lying and subject to considerable tourist and industrial development, putting their native flora at risk. Here, we report an updated checklist covering 52 families, including 152 genera and 245 species, which is being published online for the first time. This inventory was performed by a baseline

Nogal, Juglans neotropica Diels is an endangered woody angiosperm of tropical origin. Several trees of this species have been planted in Bogotá City, Colombia. The field of study is urban tree phenology. The research question of the current work is when do phenological changes occur throughout the year in urban nogal trees in the northern portion of Bogotá, Colombia? The main research objective was

This study has examined traditional coping systems, emerging adaptation strategies and barriers to the adoption of these strategies. Structured questionnaires on coping and adaptation strategies were conducted among Nyangatom households, expounded by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Correlations between times series (1987–2016) on rainfall, temperature and the local perceptions

We developed a reliable noninvasive PCR method for sex identification of the Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) based on the amplification of the chromobox-helicase DNA-binding (CHD) gene. Two sets of nested primers (F1/R1, F2/R2) were designed to amplify the introns of the CHD1W and CHD1Z genes. The fecal samples were lysed in an optimized lysis reagent containing PCR buffer. The fecal lysate was employed

Knowledge about the physical and hydric characterization in the soil is essential for studies on land use and plant development. Thus, this study evaluated water retention and its interrelationships with the physical and chemical attributes of Cambisols under different land uses in a rural settlement in a semiarid region of Brazil. The analysis of soil water retention curves associated with multivariate

Wind erosion results in soil redistribution and textural changes on topsoil. There is little information about how these changes affect plant production. Here, we compared simulations of vegetation growth between a wind-eroded scenario and an actual condition at two sites in Mongolian grasslands (steppe and desert steppe) using an ecosystem model. The wind-eroded scenario, topsoil (0–0.1 m depth) with

To minimize the negative impacts of climate change, adaptation is key. There are, however, a range of factors that, unless recognized and dealt with effectively, can prevent or disrupt adaptation efforts by farmers. Barriers to climate change adaptation in Iran, and their characteristics, are under-researched. They need to be identified and investigated both to inform policymaking and to provide assistance

Drought is a catastrophe that impacts agriculture and causes economic and social damage. An effective monitoring and forecasting system is needed to assess the extent of droughts and to mitigate their effects at both spatial and temporal levels. To this end, we used a Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in various timescales to classify and track drought events based on CHIRPS rainfall data for

This study provides the first standardized global microsatellite database for a shark species, the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Genotyping of reference individuals was used to develop and apply a calibration key for data from eight microsatellite loci data produced by three different laboratories, thereby allowing merging of genotypes into a single dataset. The unified data helped to elucidate

In this experiment, Jimai 22 was used as test material to investigate the impacts of acetochlor on the growth characteri*stics of dryland wheat and its residue in wheat grain and soil under field conditions. The results showed that acetochlor at a dosage of 750 g hm−2 could effectively control weeds in wheat fields and benefit the growth of wheat in dryland. The plant height, ear length, number of

The use of herbicides and growth regulators in agricultural crops to reduce vegetative growth is widely studied worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic traits of upland rice subjected to low doses of glufosinate-ammonium applied at different development stages. The treatments consisted of five low doses (0; 15; 30; 60; and 100 g a.i. ha−1; a.i.: active ingredient) of glufosinate-ammonium

The fourth largest lake in Africa, Lake Chad has shrunk by nearly ninety percent since the 1960s, which has impacted food security and livelihoods for fifty million people residing in the Lake Chad Basin. This short communication discusses how decreased rainfall, exacerbated by climate change, and human activity have contributed to the lake's shrinking and recommends individual, national, and multilateral

Woody invasive plants are a pernicious threat to the structure and function of ecosystems worldwide. Due to the growing number of invasive species and the variable timeline of invasion, many invasive plants are unrecognized or underreported, leading to long-term ecological damage that is beyond the capability of cost-efficient management programs. Mahonia bealei is a woody shrub native to China that

Flyingfishes of the family Exocoetidae are sometimes difficult to identify solely based on morphology as members of certain genera share overlapping characteristics. Combining morphological and molecular analyses, the present study reports two specimens of stained flyingfish Cheilopogon spilonotopterus (Bleeker 1865) from the northern Bay of Bengal. As for COI gene sequences, nucleotide variations

We explored the effect of N addition and adult canopy competition on the recruitment of lost preferred species in the Patagonian steppe, where a decelerated N cycling scenario (sensu Ritchie et al., 1998) had been previously detected. In the first experiment we demonstrated that the preferred scarce grass Bromus pictus has typical traits of Competitive species, while the dominant less preferred Pappostipa

Many species occur on unprotected lands, but continuing human pressure makes them rare especially outside protected areas (PAs). The corsac fox is a common predator in Central Asia, but rare in Iran and its conservation status is poorly understood. We aimed to assess its distribution in relation to natural and human factors. Using 31 occurrence records of corsac and 272 of its main prey species, we

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors in the world. It provides food for the growing world populations while also creating employment opportunities. This sector, however, is greatly threatened by climate change, increased water scarcity, droughts, land degradation and poor management of resources. The state of drylands in the world raises great concern given that it largely affects third

The Sultanate of Oman has a rich human history, stretching back millennia, however little is known about the history of human – plant interactions, particularly within the ancient villages and communities in Oman's northern mountains. An ethnobotanical study to document the most utilized wild plant species in Oman's Western Hajar Mountains (Jabal Shams and Jabal Asarah) and assess the threats facing

Conservation genomics research often relies on accurate sex information to make inferences about species demography, dispersal, and population structure. However, field determined sex data are not always available and can be subject to human error, while laboratory sex assignment methods such as PCR assays can often be costly and challenging for non-model species. Conservation genomics programs increasingly

Sky islands are unique systems composed of well-defined biotic communities established along an elevation gradient. Habitat restrictions associated to climate change make the species vulnerable. This study aimed to forecast the changes in the distribution patterns, altitude and the slope effect in selected plant and vertebrate species inhabiting the sky island Sierra La Laguna as a result of the temperature

Carpophilus beetles have been observed in the flowers of some chiropterophilic columnar cacti. However, the visiting and feeding behavior of these beetles in these flowers has not been described in detail. Here, we describe for the first time the visiting and feeding behavior of Carpophilus lugubris in the flowers of Pilosocereus leucocephalus, a chiropterophilous columnar cactus, in a tropical dry

Herbivory and fire promote changes in vegetation patches of arid environments, and recruitment plays a key role in their maintenance. We studied seedling dynamics in seven sites with different land use histories related to grazing and fire in north-eastern Patagonian Monte, Argentina. We selected shrub patches in grazed/burned areas. On each shrub patch, we established seven microsites along an under-canopy

Coffee is one of the most economically important agricultural commodities in the world. Labeling accuracy and conservation efficiency are essential for coffee germplasm management and for the exchange and utilization in breeding new varieties. However, due to its homogenous genetic background, accurate identification of Coffea arabica germplasm has not been fully achieved. Specifically, data comparison